Thunder storms rumble through

We got up early as usual and noticed that it was overcast outside. I poured me some coffee and sat down at the computer to check out what the weather was going to be. Partly cloudy and the chance of rain sometime in the afternoon. They gave a time that it would start but lately they have had us anticipating rain that never comes.
I decided to just finish my coffee and fix me some breakfast and not worry about fertilizing the lawn as I had previously planned. Being the conscientious home owner that I am now I have been trying to green up the lawn and make it look good. Fertilizing was one of the things that I felt was the most important for the lawn. We have a good stand of St Augustine grass with a bit of Bermuda mixed in. With such a good start I would hate to see it die under my watch.
Well about 1:00 pm Sherri came out to the shop and told me that there was a thunder storm approaching and I should think about fertilizing. Well I guess the weather guys had got this one right so I went into low gear to get the yard done before the rain hit.
I finished up while it was raining and glad I did because it rained like there was no tomorrow! I have not checked the rain gauge but it has to be well over an inch.
With the rain came winds in excess of 50 mph. We lost a section of fence and some pickets here and there. I will be busy getting that all repaired...

Somewhere in Time

Our first home repair

We had to use our home owners insurance that we got at the time of closing. We have the 1 year warranty which I used to have our AC looked at yesterday. We had turned it on the other day to cool it down some and when I went out to the garage there was water all over the floor.
I was pretty sure it was the condensate drain line stopped up and I could have fixed that but I thought this would give me an opportunity to have a professional look the unit over and be sure all was well with it before the summer heat got here.
I had the incorrect thermostat installed for the heat pump and they fixed that. Everything else except the clogged drain line looked good so I was pleased even though I had to pay the service call.
I know this year we will have to stay at home during the warmer times...No Rocky Mountain High!
So far all has been well with the new house. We are enjoying our time at home. We have many short adventures planned for this summer and are looking forward to going...

Somewhere in Time  

Tried to cut my finger off

I have been working on the RV every chance I get since we returned from Louisiana. I had an electrical cable get smashed when I was jacking up the tongue of the trailer. One of the wires was almost severed so I decided to strip it back and repair the damage before it could short out. In doing so my utility knife slipped and cut my finger.
Now if that was not bad enough I was out at the lake by myself. Sherri had run to town to exchange some shirts. There I was bleeding profusely and I was wondering if I would ever get it to stop! It took some time for me to get the bleeding to stop and when I did I made a bandage of toilet paper and electrical tape to keep out any dirt.
I remember some of the makeshift field patches we use to use when I was overseas. Not having a pharmacy next door you did what you had to do to get things done. 
Anyway I am coming along fine. I only bump it once or twice a day to remind me how stupid I was in handling that utility knife. You know you always teach your kids never cut toward yourself when using sharp instruments...well I forgot those lessons...

Somewhere in Time

Arrived at Grand Bayou

This is all of the family that showed this year

We spent some time at the cemetery visiting

We had a great site at Grand Bayou

Every year we have a family reunion with Sherri's side of the family. They have been having this reunion since her Uncle T.G. Thomas returned from WWII. TG owned land near the cemetery and we would have the gathering there. But now that he and so many others have passed on we moved it to the RV park on Grand Bayou.
All the folks in the family that own RVs rent them a spot to park in for 4 or 5 days and we visit and have a pot luck on the Saturday night before the memorial service on Sunday. All the family comes and gathers at the resort there. Some rent cabins and those that live close enough just drive over for the day. It has always been a fun time. Many stories are told about those that have gone before us and we keep so many memories alive in doing so.
I am afraid, however, that that may all be coming to an end. With the older generation gone the younger folks don't show up any longer and so goes the history of the family. It is sad to see this but I guess it happens to all families sooner or later.
My family was never this close and I know very little about them because of that. We hope to continue to go as long as we are able and hopefully by doing so we can build the attendance back up...


Somewhere in Time 

Grand Bayou here we come

Friday morning started with a beautiful sun rise and cool temps. We were up as usual about 5:30. I made the coffee and Sherri made the bed. We were leaving this morning for Louisiana and our annual family reunion. 
As I have said many times before not being full time in our RV we have to pack much like a vacation. We have nothing in the RV so everything that we need has to be thought out and then packed before we can head out on the highway.
We did get everything that we planned on taking loaded up in the truck. Before we could head out we had to prepare the house and make sure everything was turned off. Doors locked house secured we backed out and pointed the truck in the direction of the lake. 
I had topped off the diesel the day before so all that was left to do was load all our stuff in the RV and hook it up to the truck. 
Now that does not seem too hard to do but then not having hooked it up before...well need I say more.
I had to pull all of the instructions out of my blank mind and try to remember what to do first and how to do it. Oh I know what you are saying...You had one of these before don't you know how to do it? Yes but that was 35 years ago!
I did get it all hooked up and we were ready to get going. I will have to say we could not have had a finer day to travel. The weather was cooperating with us and traffic was not bad at all.
Before long we would be at Grand Bayou Resort...

Somewhere in Time 

Cell phones in restaurants

What is it with people that have conversations in restaurants on their cell phones. Have you ever noticed that they want to talk load so that everyone knows they are there. I have yet to understand why they think we want to hear their conversation.

Back before cell phones we had phone booths. Phone booths were designed so you could have a private conversation with someone and not let everyone around you know what you were saying. Now days people want everyone to know what they are up to and if the people around them don't quieten down they talk loader so they can be heard!

We had a youth minister setting behind us at Panda Express and this guy was trying to sell an employer on hiring a young man in his congregation. Before he left I was ready to hire this kid. I know more about him than his mom! If this kid new this youth minister was blaring out all the personal information about him in a restaurant he would have crawled under a rock!

I am sure all of you have been exposed to those type of conversations...

Somewhere in Time 

Wonderful weekend

Everyday is Saturday when you retire but you still have to keep up with the days so you know what is going on. Certain days contain certain things that you have to know about...such as trash day and TV programs on specific days...well you get where I am coming from.
This allows me to tell you that we had a wonderful weekend. Knowing that Saturday was beautiful  weather and that Sunday brought rain which we so badly deeded. 
Not having a whole lot to do Sunday except for mowing the back yard Sherri and I spent the day watching movies. Capote was one of the ones we watched and it was very interesting. Before this movie I knew very little about the man. In Cold Blood was his biggest seller and it was a gut wrenching none fiction. The movie was moving also.
OK we enjoyed our weekend and the rain. We are looking forward to the end of this week when we head out to Louisiana for our family reunion at Grand Bayou Resort. 
Here again because we are not full timers anymore we have to pack up and get ready for the big adventure. This always takes a lot of work but then it is well worth it...

Somewhere in Time 

Gates for the barn

At least once a week we head out to the lake to check on the RV and the property. Now that it is getting warmer the grass is starting to grow and that means that I have to cut it every now and again.

Yesterday was one of our days to visit and we were up early to get Kris off to school and then make the drive out to the lake.

As I got out of the truck I noticed that we had a lot of debris in the yard. Our neighbors dogs run loose all the time and they bring their chew items into out yard to chew and then they poop in our yard but not in their owners...Go figure. 

Upon further investigation I noticed that some of our furry friends have been using the inside of the barn for their party house. They have dug under my storage shed out there looking for my little bunny rabbit. 

OK you say what is your point here. I need to put up gates to keep the unwelcome guest out! It is a shame that you can't have nice things when your neighbors let their "Pets"...and I use that term loosely. They don't tend to their animals much less pet them...so how are they pets?

Enough of that rant...now I must design some gates that will keep my things safe while I am away. I don't have the money to buy gates so I will have to build them from the material I have there at the barn. 

Stay tuned for my design and installation which will be coming up...

Somewhere in Time 

Weekend Get-a-way

We have been watching HGTV a lot lately. I have been seeing all these folks buying these "Weekend Get-a-ways". I have often wondered how they can afford to have another place to spend the weekend when most folks barely make it by with just one place to live?
As I was giving this some considerable thought I realized we have a weekend place! What was I thinking? I guess the fact that I have another yard to mow and another house to care for...even if it is on wheels...we do have a place to go on the weekends to get away from the city. Well how lucky are we?
Sherri and I will be spending a lot of time in our house on wheels in the months to come and we are really looking forward to getting away.
With the house we have had to spend a lot of time and money getting things around here up to snuff. We are rounding the corner on completion of our needs here and when that happens we will be spending more time at the lake enjoying our other home.
I have my boat to fish out of and plenty of trails to walk and time to sit outside and enjoy nature. The park next to the house is a grueling 2 mile drive from the lake lot and with the state park pass we stay cheap...with sewer and 50 amp electric. It don't get much better than that.
We have several other trips that we will be taking over the summer so all in all we will be doing well. I am just looking forward to the time when we can start this new adventure...

Somewhere in Time

Gloomy day

We woke up this morning and made coffee. I poured the first cup and sat down in my recliner to read my emails and facebook. 
While sitting there reading I noticed it was lightning outside and upon closer examination I could see that it was raining. YEAH!!!
We have needed this for ever. This is after I watered the front yard with all the free hydrant water that was running down the street. I guess it is like washing your car...it always rains so you can run through all the mud puddles left by the rain.
Today will be spent here in the recliners watching some movies. I hope it rains all day...we sure need it.
They'll be plenty days to work outside...

Somewhere in Time 

Days are getting nicer

Before you could say flood the street was a river of free water

Sherri!...Don't let a drop get by you! Get all the water we can.

I was rooting for the leak but the crew got it fixed and the free water was over.

This morning I was up early...I don't know why...I have nothing to do today except work in the yard and I don't think that is worth getting up early for.
I stayed awake last night and watched a movie on Netflix and went to bed about midnight so I should have slept longer than this. OH Well here I am up and drinking coffee. Might as well make the best of it.
Yesterday while Sherri and I were working in the yard I noticed a gentlemen drive up across the street. He pulled into my neighbors driveway and opened his trunk and pulled out a tool to shut off the water at the meter. He went over to the meter opened it and began to try and turn the water off. In doing so he broke the shut off valve at the meter and the water began to bubble up out of the meter box. He immediately jumped back into his car and drove off?
What the the... Well moments later a city truck pulled up and a man got out and walked over to the meter. He surveyed the damaged...made a call on his cell phone and soon another city vehicle drove up and stopped down the street at the water hydrant. This man got out and went over with a large wrench and opened the valve on the hydrant and the water spewed out with great force.
Before you could say flood the front gutter looked like a river! Gallons of water was coming down the street. All of this happened in just a mater of minutes and Sherri and I just stood there and watched this event unfold.
Well me being the miser I am I ran and got a bucket and began to scoop the water up out of the gutter and carry it to my thirsty trees and shrubs. We have not had any rain to speak of here since I don't know when so I took advantage of the free water.
The water began to back up into my driveway and I was afraid that it might make it into the garage...but as luck would have it...it found a low spot and headed off into my neighbors yard. I told Sherri to get the broom and sweep it into our yard! She got the broom and commenced to divert the water into our dry yard and now we were getting a good soaking!
Meanwhile the city workers were frantically trying to get the leak in my neighbors yard plugged. I was rooting for the leak and it was winning. Finally one of the trucks left and when it returned it had a backhoe in tow. They began to dig up the front yard and get down to the pipe that had broken. I did not know they were that deep in the ground but when the worker got down into the hole to fix the leak you could barely see the top of his head!
At last they capped the leak and they turned off the hydrant. No more water was coming down the street but I had emptied several hundred gallons of free water on my front lawn and I was a happy camper. My neighbor on the other hand was not as happy as I. Their front yard looked like a mine field!
Come to find out they had a plumber come over to shut the water off so they could have their new dishwasher installed. The shut off was 30 some years old and it just broke off when he tried to shut it off. Sorry neighbor but I came out on the winning end of this fix...

Somewhere in Time